TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED CFI (INCLUDING ARBITRATION)
AED 2
BILLION JAN. - JUNE 2019
4-6
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
WEEKS
AED 37.4
AVERAGE TIME FOR SCT CASES TO BE RESOLVED AFTER SUCCESSFUL SERVICE
MILLION
FACT
SHEET HALF YEAR
2019
JAN. - JUNE 2019
23
PRO BONO CLINICS IN 2019
282
INDIVIDUALS SERVED
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JUDICIAL BENCH
FACT SHEET 2019
DIFC COURTS TEAM
66%
34%
WOMEN
MEN
UK 2 3 UAE
DEVELOPING EMIRATI TALENT
1 Malaysia Singapore 1
37%
3 Australia
of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals
OUTREACH The DIFC Courts are committed to transparency and customer engagement. This requires regular and robust communications with stakeholders conducted via:
Quarterly Newsletters
Social Media
eREGISTRY
Regular Events: Quarterly Lecture Series and Annual Legal Gala Dinner
Media Relations
Annual Review
Actively Managed Website
News Alerts
The DIFC Courts operate a full registry service online. This enables remote 24/7 secure case progression and administration, e-payments and practitioner registration facilities. Registered Legal Practitioners in 2019
Law Firms: 133
Individual Lawyers: 248
Courtroom The state-of-the-art courtroom communications equipment plays a key role in supporting the increasing international caseloads in 2019. Parties are able to contribute to hearings via video conference or have access to their cases online, as well as use e-bundling.
WILLS SERVICE CENTRE
KEY HIGHLIGHTS • JAN. 2019: Visit to HE Chancellor Yosuf Alabri, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Undersecretary • FEB. 2019: Agreement with Dubai Healthcare City Authority • FEB. 2019: Participation at the Leadership in Judicial Innovation Forum organised by the Ministry of Justice
5,160
549
• MAR. 2019: Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Land Department • APR. 2019: Participation at the Corporate Counsel Forum Middle East • APR. 2019: Visit to Justice Ahmed AlDuailej, Secretary General of the Supreme Court in the KSA
Total wills registered
Total wills registered Jan. - June 2019
• MAY 2019: Participation at the Legal 500 summit • MAY 2019: Visit to HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance • JUN. 2019: Visit to Kuwait Bar Association
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE (CFI) The CFI has exclusive jurisdiction over any civil or commercial case when it relates to the DIFC. It can also hear cases when the contract in question specifies DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction (pre-dispute jurisdiction) or when both parties elect to use DIFC Courts to resolve a dispute which has already arisen (post-dispute resolution). One judge hears proceedings in the CFI.
Total value of claims filed
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
CFI (Including Arbitration)
95% of visitors said they were happy with the services provided by DIFC Courts
AED 2
BILLION JAN. - JUNE 2019
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (SCT) The first of its kind in the region, the SCT was set up to enable access to justice in a swift and efficient manner. The SCT operates with a community approach that promotes settlement. Cases in the SCT are resolved in an expeditious, cost-efficient manner without the need for lawyers. The SCT can hear: Claims within the jurisdiction of the DIFC where: • The amount or
OR • The claim relates to the
OR
• In the context of claims which are not employment related,
value of the claims
employment or former employment
the amount or value of the claim does not exceed
does not exceed
of a party and the amount or value
AED 1 million; and all parties elect in writing that it can
AED 500,000;
of the claims exceed AED 500,000
be heard by SCT, such election can be made in
and all parties to the claim elect in
the underlying contract (if any) or subsequently.
writing that it be heard by the SCT. There is no value limit for the SCT’s elective jurisdiction in the context of employment claims;
Number of claims filed
4-6
Total value of claims filed
average time for SCT cases to be resolved after successful service
243 CASES
321
AED
WEEKS
37.5
MILLION
CASES
JAN. - JUN 2019 JAN. - JUNE 2018
JAN. - JUNE 2019
SCT
23%
INCREASE
ENFORCEMENT
COURT OF APPEAL (CA)
Total value of claims filed
The Court of Appeal deals with a variety of civil and commercial disputes. It comprises a panel of three judges, and deals with:
• Appeals filed against judgments and awards made by the CFI
AED 288.6 MILLION
• Interpretations of any article of the DIFC’s laws based upon the request of any of the DIFC’s establishments, provided that the establishment obtains leave of the Chief Justice in this regard. Such interpretation shall have the power of law
JAN. - JUN 2019
COOPERATION WITH OTHER COURTS AT HOME AND ABROAD DIFC Courts have signed many important memoranda with local and international courts. DIFC Courts’ money judgments can be enforced internationally through treaties and reciprocal arrangements with common law courts overseas.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN SHANGHAI HIGH PEOPLE’S COURT JORDANIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
COMMERCIAL COURT OF ENGLAND AND WALES THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (SDNY)
THE PARIS CONVENTION
THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC
THE RIYADH CONVENTION
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE RAS AL REGION OF THE KHAIMAH PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA THE GCC CONVENTION
THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
HIGH COURT OF ZAMBIA
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (2004)
THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
THE SUPREME COURT OF SINGAPORE
HANGZHOU ARBITRATION COMMISSION
THE NATIONAL COURT ADMINISTRATION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF KOREA
FEDERAL COURT OF MALAYSIA
THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
THE RIYADH CONVENTION (1983) THE GCC CONVENTION (1996)
TREATIES MEMORANDUM OF GUIDANCE/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
PRO BONO PROGRAMME
THE PRO BONO CLINIC INITIATIVE
The Pro Bono Programme was created for those who cannot afford a lawyer to receive access to free legal advice. Services range from basic advice to full case management and representation in proceedings.
2019 Half Year
56 volunteer firms
160 individual lawyers
*Figures quoted are from period January - June, 2019
THE NEW SOUTH WALES SUPREME COURT
23 Clinics
282 individuals served